Suspects charged after rash of vehicle break-ins

Published: Monday, January 28, 2013 at 5:54 p.m.

Last Modified: Monday, January 28, 2013 at 5:54 p.m.

A watchful resident may have helped solve a rash of break-ins plaguing Transylvania County when he called police about two suspicious people Sunday morning.

Police say a homeowner on Morningside Drive called 911 when he saw what he described as two males breaking into a car near his home. His tip led officers on a hunt that resulted in the capture of two suspects, who have been linked to at least 34 break-ins, Transylvania County Sheriff David Mahoney said in a news release.

Officers from Brevard Police Department and the Transylvania County Sheriff’s Office have received reports of more than 60 break-ins over the last five weeks. When they got a call Sunday about a potential burglary in progress, officers from both agencies, some working and some off duty, rushed to the scene, Mahoney said.

“Upon the arrival of law enforcement, both suspects fled the area on foot. One suspect was apprehended after a brief foot chase,” Mahoney said in a news release. The other suspect was sniffed out by a K-9 a short time later.

Kevin Anthony Harmer, 22, and Charles Eugene “CJ” Moore, 20, both of Brevard, were charged with felony breaking and entering and felony larceny. They are being held in the Transylvania County Detention Center in lieu of $40,000 secured bonds.

“The response and teamwork from both agencies was amazing,” Mahoney said in the release. “A lot of hard work has gone into investigating these cases and a lot of hard work remains to be done. There is no question that these arrests are the result of a great partnership between local law enforcement and the community we serve.”

Numerous additional charges are expected to be filed shortly, according to the release.

<p>A watchful resident may have helped solve a rash of break-ins plaguing Transylvania County when he called police about two suspicious people Sunday morning.</p><p>Police say a homeowner on Morningside Drive called 911 when he saw what he described as two males breaking into a car near his home. His tip led officers on a hunt that resulted in the capture of two suspects, who have been linked to at least 34 break-ins, Transylvania County Sheriff David Mahoney said in a news release. </p><p>Officers from Brevard Police Department and the Transylvania County Sheriff's Office have received reports of more than 60 break-ins over the last five weeks. When they got a call Sunday about a potential burglary in progress, officers from both agencies, some working and some off duty, rushed to the scene, Mahoney said.</p><p>“Upon the arrival of law enforcement, both suspects fled the area on foot. One suspect was apprehended after a brief foot chase,” Mahoney said in a news release. The other suspect was sniffed out by a K-9 a short time later.</p><p>Kevin Anthony Harmer, 22, and Charles Eugene “CJ” Moore, 20, both of Brevard, were charged with felony breaking and entering and felony larceny. They are being held in the Transylvania County Detention Center in lieu of $40,000 secured bonds.</p><p>“The response and teamwork from both agencies was amazing,” Mahoney said in the release. “A lot of hard work has gone into investigating these cases and a lot of hard work remains to be done. There is no question that these arrests are the result of a great partnership between local law enforcement and the community we serve.” </p><p>Numerous additional charges are expected to be filed shortly, according to the release.</p><p>Reach Weaver at emily.weaver@blueridgenow.com or 828-694-7867.</p>